After my niece ran out of her shopping money in Paris, her enthusiasm for touring the city was beginning to wane.  It was a bright sunny June day in the city and I was loving walking around taking it all in.  While I can walk for hours and hours, my niece not so much.  With her coveted Parisian purchases in hand, I said “Let’s go to the Arc de Triomphe” and was met with her now familiar shrug.  While I haven’t been to the top of the Arc de Triomphe since my first visit over twenty years ago. I still remember how cool the views were of the Champs Elysees and roads in all directions. As she was beginning to formulate reasons to skip it, I reminded her that she had chosen the Arc de Triomphe on her “things to see in Paris” list  so I  had to act fast.

I said “it’s only about 100 steps or so to the top”.  She was tired of walking the many metro stops/changes of the day and the prospect of only 100 steps seems to go over well as it was finite.  Now, you and I know just looking at the sheer size of the monument that it is more than 100 steps.  So I consider my “100 steps or so” a little white lie in the grand scheme of things.  I am sure under legal review the “or so” qualifies as a truthful statement.

Arc de Triomphe Entrance

We walked underground to the entrance and with my skip the line ticket (part of my Paris pass) we were able to walk past the short line.  I did, however, need to go to the ticket window for a free child ticket (everyone needs a ticket).  We then walked up the steps to the street level of the Arc de Triomphe and my “100 steps or so” lie was quickly unraveling when she realized how massive it really was (my niece is pretty smart).

Rather than walk the grounds, we presented our tickets and started the walk up to the top.  With a spiral staircase that looked like it went forever, I realized that my “100 steps or so” was a lie that I needed to tell myself to push onward and up.  I must have erased this memory from years ago.  I was full of  baguettes, macarons, chocolate, pain du chocolat and lots of wine which was making my climb a bit more than I anticipated on the warm day.  On the plus side, we were the only ones walking up at the time so we could go at our own pace until we reached the gift shop/bathroom level.  I was able to take a quick break and drink water before the last climb to the top.

Arc de Triomphe Views From Above

As we climbed the last 64 steps toward the sunlight (note that there are 284 steps to the top, a few more than 100, but well within the “or so” range), my niece had a better attitude at the prospect of reaching the top without the aid of a protest like we had encountered at the Eiffel Tower.  Looking around we saw people walking atop the perimeter walls and quickly jumped up ourselves to look out and below.  I quickly remembered that this was my favorite way to see the city.

 

On one corner, we could see the crowds gathered listening to the music and watching the dance performance.

In the middle, the many tourists waiting their turns in between traffic to get their photo in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

On the other side, the streets were tree lined with sparse traffic and few people, such a contrast to the Champs Elysees.

And then the view of La Defense and it’s famous arch in the distance.

My niece assessed the views and quickly asked me to take her photo in front of the Eiffel Tower – a pretty great view.

Arc de Triomphe – Ground Level Views

After we walked around all the sides/edges and I took a million or so photos (according to my niece) we made our exit through the gift shop, of course.  The Arc de Triomphe gift shop had a myriad of interesting and tempting souvenirs – my niece bought Eiffel Tower golf tees, a Paris viewfinder and a metro map mug for her family.  The walk down the steps was much easier but we had a group behind us so we moved quickly and I had to try not to get dizzy.  Arriving back on the ground felt like we crossed a finish line.

The ground level has a lot to offer as you watch the traffic try to navigate in the circle and make a turn (definitely a frogger type situation) as well as look at the intricate detail of the Arc and the flames of the tomb of the unknown soldier.

After a short walk around, we were asked to move as they were preparing for a ceremony.  We saw a few older men in uniform and a small group of soldiers marching but after waiting 15 minutes, nothing was happening so we decided to leave exiting underground and resurfacing on the Champs Elysees.

Arc de Triomphe – Champs Elysees Views

We crossed the Champs Elysees to join the tourists waiting in the middle of the street median for our quick photo in front of the Arc de Triomphe. We then did a bit of window shopping and actual shopping, ultimately stopping at Laduree (indulging my inner dessert princess).

As we walked, we heard music, saw traffic stopped on one side of the Champs Elysees and then out of a side street a procession appeared.  The group included older men dressed in uniform, women and children. So this was the group expected at the Arc de Triomphe for a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. I would later learn that the group was marching to commemorate the end of WWII as June 22 was the day the armistice with Germany was signed.

Despite the beauty of the architecture of the Arc de Triomphe and the many great views, it is the soldier and the many men who fought for France over the years that the Arc represents and remembers. While it does have great views, I think we tend to (I know I did) forget the soldiers of our past in all of our countries who gave their lives for the freedoms we have today.  I explained this to my niece that we had toured a part of French history and that the march was to remember that history.

The Arc de Triomphe should definitely be on your “to do” list when visiting Paris.  Make sure you learn the history, appreciate the architecture and take in the incredible views…. it’s only about 100 steps or so……